(BLOOMINGTON) - Last year in December, the Indiana University Public Policy Institute reported 343 vehicle collisions in Monroe County. Prepare your family for holiday travels at the free Car Seat Check Clinic on Nov. 29 from 12:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Northern Monroe Fire Territory (5081 N. Old State Rd. 37, Bloomington).

This free clinic is put on by Riley Physicians, a partner with Indiana University Health Southern Indiana Physicians. In partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI), Riley Physicians wants to ensure child safety in vehicles because proper child seat usage saves lives.

Bring the following to the clinic so instructor can individualize the car seat check based on factors that affect children's safety while they're in vehicles:

All children less than eight years of age are required by Indiana's child passenger safety law to be properly restrained in a federally approved child restraint system. Children should be in the back seat until at least the age of 12. An authorized child seat inspection station can provide free inspections, valuable information and resources to help keep your child safe.